Gas protected lock



gnam/nto@ R. K. DOHERTY GAS PROTECTED LOCK Filed Jan. ll, 1950 Jlme 7, 1932.

Patented `une 7, 1932 UNITED STATES ROBERT K. DOHERTY,V OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIEBOLD SAFE LOCK COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, CORPORATION OF OHIO g1am-58 PATENT OFFICE GAS PROTECTED Loox V Application filed January 11, 1930. serial No. 420,110.

My invention relates to locks, and more particularly to combination locks including a rotatable spindle for operating the comblnation mechanism. Y

Such a lock is usually used for maintaining the door of a chest, safe, or vault in the bolted and locked position, and the combination mechanism is usually mounted in a case which is secured upon the inside of the door, and the spindle extends through a bore in the door and terminates on the outside thereof in a knob and dial. Y

Unauthorized persons, vandals, or robbers attempting to gain access to the interior of a chest, safe, or vault, the door of which is protected by such a combination lock, usually attempt to hammer off the lock knob and dial, and drive the spindle inwardly, thereby moving the lock tumblers in the case out of line with the dog or fence, and releasing the locking engagement of the bolt stop with the bolt of the lock.

The activities of such unauthorizedv persons, vandals, or robbers may be rendered ineffective if it ispossible to discharge poisonous or disagreeable gases into the Zone of unauthorized, destructive, or felonious operations. a

The objects of the present improvements include the provision, in a combination lock and the like, of an improved lock-spindle including a frangible gas container mounted therein and a knob, so that any hammering on the knob or spindle will break the container and release the contained gases into the atmosphere adjacent the knob and in front of the door upon which the lock is mounted.

Thesev objects are attained in the present invention, as is hereinafter claimed, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter set forth in detail. y c

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which The figure is a transverse sectional view of a door having mounted thereon one of the improved gas protected locks hereof, the section being taken on the longitudinal axis of the lock spindle. p

Similar numerals referto similar parts'in may be the door ofra money chest, safe, or y vault.

The door lthas a bore formed therein and the bore 15 is preferably providedv with aytubular liner 16. Y

A novel lock operating spindle indicated generally at 17 extends from an operative connection with the lock mechanism yWithin the case l1 through the bore 15 beyond the outside face 18 vof the door 14; and the spinidle 17 terminates at its outer end on the outside of the door, in a control knob 19. n The control knobv 19 is preferably secured upon the outer end of a knob `shaft 19a comprising one of the parts of the novel spindle indicated generally at 17, and a dial 2O is mounted on the knob shaft 19a for use in a usual manner with a dial index plate 21 mounted on the outside face of the door 14, The improved spindle indicated generally at 17 when being installed on the door as illustrated, is arranged to be Ainserted from the outside through the bore 15 into the lock case v11 where connection with the tumblers is made. i Y

The spindle 17 includes aninner shaft 22, one end of which extends within the lock case 11 and connects with the tumblers therein,

`keyways formed in the threaded aperture of the Vcontainer shaft and on the inner shaft 22for insuring rotation of the inner shaft 22 when the container shaft 25 is rotated The. container shaft 25 may preferably be made from a length ofvround shafting of a4 -therein as by counterboring the container shaft'25 from the outer end thereof.

The outer end of the container shaft eX- tends into a counterbore 22S-which is formed in the inner end of the knob shaft 19a, and the knob shaft 19a and the container sli-aft 25v are secured to each other by radially extending screws 29 which are screwed into registering threaded apertures in the telescoping container shaft 25 and knob shaft 19a. f'

The container shaft 25 has formed therein intermediate its ends circumferential-ily*extending gas ports 30.

Vithin the bomb 'chamber 27 ofthe container shaft 25 a longitudinally extending frangible gas container` 31 is located, and the container isv preferably in the form of a glass shell within which the poisonous or disagreeable gases are contained.

The container 31 has formed therein a neck groove 32 of reduced diameter which is located in alinement with the inner ends of the screws 29'; and the inner ends of the screws 29 extend into the neckvr groove so that displacement or knocking on of the knob shaft. 19a by hammering or the likewill break the container 31 usually at the neck groove 32, the ends ofthe screws 29 being impinged against the 'container at the neckgroove. n

For positioning the shell bomb 31 within the container'chamber 27 in a. novelmanner to make certain the release of the container gases when the lock is attached, the endsv of the container are supported in spacer plug supports 33 ande'34 which are `preferably made of cementitious material, such as rubber cement. p

The outer end 35 of the container 3l is preferably pointed as indicated, and extends intothe outer end plug support 34 lwhereby a blow on the knob 1.9 lor knob shaft 19a which may not be suilicient to entirely fracture the container at the neck groove, will crack the same intermediate its lengthdue 'to its beam-like extension in the spacer .plug

supports 34 and 33.V 1

Likewise a direct blow on the endl of the knob 19 axially of the spindle, will fracture the container by instantaneously moving the plug support 34 toward the plug support 33.

During operations of professional cracksm'en, lthe knob shaft 19a will usually be completelyY knocked off and thegas from the fractured container 31 will be released directly from theforwardv end of the container, and will issue forth into the atmosphere in front of the door, thereby driving away or disabling the cracksmen. v o

If. however, the blow isv not sufficient to knock off the knob Vshaft 19a its inner shoulder 36 which normally bears againstfthe-outer face of the door Vlnwill be displaced therefrom and from itsusu'al bearing engagement with the indicator plate 21, whereby gas will pass through the ports 30- and the bore l5 and the aforesaid openings between the knob shaft and the door formed by displacement of the knob shaft.

In this event vthe atmosphere in front of the door will likewisebe filled with the poisonous or disagreeable gases.

The container illustrated is preferably made of glassV but may be made of "desired frangible material.

I claim: f

l. A lock including an operating spindle extending therefrom, supporting means on the spindle, a frangible gas container carried' by the supportingY means, there being a neckgroove formed inv the container, and

members extending `from neck groove. o l

2. A lock including anI operating spindle extendingtherefrom, supporting members on the spindle, a frangible gas container inthe spindlev into the terpose'd betweenand having its ends?` mountn ed'in the supporting members, therev being a neck groovev formedin the container, and members extending from the spindle intothe neck groove. Y

- Operating meansfor ay lock, said operating means being adaptedfto hold afra-ngible gas container and comprising a spindle, aknob secured to said spindle, -andmeans for rigidly securingspaced portions of said fiangible container to Vsaid knoband said spindle whereby= relative displacement :be-

tween said knob and said spindle will: cause said frangible container "to break;v

4. Operating means for a lock, said operating means being adapted Yto hold a frangible'gas container' and comprising a spindle extending from 'said lock, said spindle being provided with a chamber hold-ing one end of said frangible container, a knob'securedto said spindle and provided with a chamber for holding the other end of said frang'ible container, and means forrigid-ly securing saidr ends of said frangible container tol said knob and said spindle to insure the breaking thereof when said knob is displaced relative 4to said spindle. a'

5. Gperating means for a1 lock adapted to hold a frangible gas container having a restricted portion intermediate rits ends, sai-d operating means comprising aspindle having n va chamber formed therein to receive lone end of said frangible container, a knobhavinv a chamber therein forreceivingthe' other end of. said frangible container, and means for securing said knob to said spindle and adapted to break saidofrangible container portion vfrom said. restricted -portion when said knob is displaced relative'to saidspindle. e'

6. Qperatin-g means for a lock, said operating lmeans being adapted to hold-a frangible gas container and comprising-a spindle extending from said lock, said :spindle being provided With a chamber holding one end of said frangible container, said spindle having holes therein through Which gas may be discharged from said chamber, a knob secured to said spindle andprovided With a chamber for holding the other end of said frangible container, and means for rigidly securing said ends of said frangible container to said knob and said frangible container will fracture when said knob is displaced relative to said spindle.

7. Operating means for a lock, said operating means being adapted to hold a frangible gas container and comprising a spindle eX- tending from said lock, a knob secured to said spindle, and cement securing one end of said container to said knob and the other end of said container to said spindle so that said container Will fracture When said knob is displaced relative to said spindle.

8. In operating means for a lock, a spindle extending from the lock, a sealed frangible container carried by said spindle, said container being adapted to hold a quantity of gas, and a knob secured to said spindle and adapted to fracture said container When it is displaced relative to said spindle.

9. In operating means for a lock7 va hollow spindle extending from the lock, a sealed frangible container disposed in said spindle said container being adapted to hold a quan! tity of gas, and a knob secured to said spindle and adapted to fracture said container When it is displaced relative to said spindle.

10. In operating means vfor a look, a hollow spindle extending from the lock, a sealed glass container mounted in said Spindle, said container being adapted to hold a quantity of gas, and a knob secured to said spindle and adapated to fracture said container When it is displaced relative to said spindle.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT K. DOHERTY. 

